Improvement in watch-keys



F. E. ALLEN @L S. G. HALL.

watch Kys. L N0. 138,779. Patented May/13,1873.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcEo FRANCIS E. ALLEN, 0F KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND SAMUEL Gr. HALL OF WINCHENDON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATCH-KEYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,779, dated May 13, 1873; application led March 10, 1873.

' lowing is a specification:

Nature and Object.

This invention pertains to certain improvements in the construction of watch-keys, whereby great solidity is secured, in combination with cheapness of construction;v and it consistsl in the method of uniting the steel stem that contains the socket with the sheetmetal tube that forms the handle, and holding them in working position4 together.

Drawing.

Figure 1 is an external view of a key, full size and complete. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an exterior view of the portion of the shell or tube which holds the steel stem. Fig. 4 is the steel stem ready for insertion into the shell or tube at Fig.3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a section through a b of the steel stem at Fig. 4,-to show the form of the feathers77 or teeth that hold it from turning. Fig. 6 is another form of steel stem. n

The handle or shell of such keysis formed of thin sheet metal, and in two parts, A B.

The part Ais a cap or tube, closed at one end, and is formed by striking the metal into shape, as in the formation of percussion-caps, by suitable dies, and which readily gives the re quired corrugations on the surface that facilitate the holding of thepkey between the thumb and finger for winding; The part Bis simply a tube, open at both ends and of the shape shown at Fig. 3, and is formed in any convenient manner, except that the deep groove at g is not made until the steel stem is inserted in The stem shown at Fi g. 4 is formed of steel wire, the .socket at S being` formed by first drilling a hole of about the required size, and then drifting the corners therein by a square punch that forces the shavings or chips into the bottom of the socket, and compresses them therein so rmly that they cannot fall out. Upon the outer surface ot` the other end of the stem feathers or teeth are formed similar to the teeth of a file, and upon opposite sides of theJ stem, and in'opposite directions, as best seen at t, Fig. 5. Then the stem is properly hardened and forced through the tube B from the larger end to the position shown at Fig. 2, and said serrations or teeth cut their way into the soft metal of the tube B, and prevent the stem from turning in either direction, either to the left or right, in the tube. When this is done, then a groove, as at g, is milled in the tube B just behind the end ofthe steel stem, and thereby eli'ectually prevents the stem from working back in the tube B. After this is completed the cap A is slipped over the open end ot' the tube B, and then fastened by soldering, or in other convenient manner, and the parts are then polished and the key is completed.

Instead of forming the groove g behind the end of the stem a groove may be formed upon some portion of the stem within the tube B, as at g, Fig. 6, which will hold the stem from being forced either in or out of the tube.

NVha-t we claim is- The within-described method of making watch-keys, by forcing a steel pipe, having upon its enlarged upper portion serrations or splines, partly through a tapering soft-metal tube, and confining it permanently in position by compressing the tube immediately behind the pipe, substantially as described.

FRANCIS E. ALLEN. SAMUEL G. HALL. Witnesses:

E. S. MERRILL, CLARA A. MERRILL. 

